What Is Dissociative Fugue?
3. Duration
Many instances of dissociative fugue only last a few hours at a time. It can be difficult for casual observers to recognize that the individual is in a fugue state because his or her behavior is normal and not unusual or inappropriate. People close to the individual may notice uncharacteristic confusion. Sometimes a relatively short fugue state can be mistaken for a bout of sleepwalking.
However, symptoms of dissociative fugue can last for days, weeks, or even months. There have been reports of a fugue state lasting for several years. During an extended duration like this, people may start entirely new lives, unaware of their old ones.
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